More reports of burglaries are surfacing in the Lawrence neighborhood where an elderly couple was slain last week.

As Lawrence Police recruits Tuesday combed a four-block stretch of Learnard Avenue looking for clues in the case, detectives and victims were trying to determine whether earlier burglaries might be related to the double homicide.

Lawrence police recruits Trent McKinley, left, and Mark Unruh check for evidence along Learnard Avenue in the slayings of Pete Wallace and Wyona Chandlee. Investigators continued pursuing leads of nearby burglaries on Tuesday that might be related to the slayings.

“It’s unnerving,” said Theotis Smith, 56, whose house was ransacked earlier this year. “Everybody’s still pretty well shook up about this.”

Monday night, an 81-year-old woman told police her house in the 1900 block of Learnard Avenue was burglarized July 8 10 days before the bodies of Pete Wallace and Wyona Chandlee were discovered shot to death in their home about four blocks away.

The woman, who was not home at the time of the burglary, did not report the incident because she didn’t think anything had been taken, said police spokesman Sgt. Mike Pattrick.

“After talking with family members, she decided to tell police,” Pattrick said.

According to police, the back door of the woman’s house was forced open sometime between 11:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. July 8.

Police said they thought Wallace and Chandlee, both 71, were shot and killed when they arrived home sometime Wednesday or Thursday and surprised a burglar in their home at 1530 Learnard Ave. Their bodies were discovered Thursday afternoon by a friend and family member.

Police released no new information Tuesday about the double slaying. There still are no suspects.

But Smith, who lives in the 1600 block of Learnard Avenue, wonders whether the same person who ransacked his home late May 24 or early May 25 might be the same one who later killed Wallace and Chandlee.

The burglary at Smith’s residence took place at night, he said. Smith said he left town Friday night for the Memorial Day weekend. At 6:45 a.m. the next day, a neighbor noticed his front door open.

Smith returned home Monday afternoon and found the door open and his home ransacked. Missing were a DVD player, 12 cans of beer and about $30 in wrapped pennies, he said.

Police have not disclosed whether anything was missing from the Wallace-Chandlee home.

Tuesday, about 15 police recruits, as well as some detectives, were combing the terrain from 1500 Learnard Avenue to 1900 Learnard Avenue.

“They were looking for anything that might be discarded or looks like it might be evidence,” Pattrick said. “We’ll be doing a canvass of that area, going door-to-door and talking to people. The area they are covering might be expanded.”

Anyone who is not home when police come knocking may find a business card in their door asking for a call to set up a time when police can visit.

“There is going to be a large police presence in that area for some time to come,” Pattrick said.

Police continue to ask anyone with information that might help the investigation to call 843-TIPS, and callers remain anonymous. A reward is possible. Calls can also be taken by detectives at 830-7440.

Temporary police “no parking signs” have been placed along both sides of Learnard Avenue from the 1500 through 1900 blocks. The signs, however, were erected because of a street resurfacing project and are not related to the homicide investigation, city officials said.